Άβατον – Eξ Aδοκήτω (1996)

Country: Greece

Tracklist

1. With a Few Celestial Words I Shall Begin 08:13
2. 02 I Do Not Wish I Were Wealthy 10:49
3. Melpeia 05:07
4. Aloessa 04:10
5. To My Hetaerae 07:18
6. For Those Who Lead A Happy Life 05:29
7. Hymenaon (Wedding Song) 07:52
8. Bacchus 08:22
9. Simoun 10:00
10. The Love For The Sun 06:08

Avaton formed in 1988 when Ιωάννης Παπαδάκης met Παναγιώτη Ξυδιά and they decided to join forces.
The band was discovered by Μάνος Χατζιδάκις, one of the most famous Greek musicians, 

who signed them and released their first self titled album through his label "Seirios" in 1991.
Two years later they recorded their second album "Ερως Αελίω",while in 1996 they released their
grand opus "Εξ Αδοκήτω" which made everybody talking about "The Greek Dead Can Dance".
Avaton was becoming on stage a 14 piece band trying to achieve an atmosphere of oriental mystery.
Having played live in many Greek festivals and other countries,

also writing musical scores for theatrical performances,
in 2001 they released their fourth album "Κόσμον", featuring Egyptian singer Natacha Atlas.
After "Κόσμον" they disbanded and in 2003 Ιωάννης Παπαδάκης 

released his personal album "Εξ-Άβατον",
while Παναγιώτης Ξυδιάς continues (as Pan. Kaperneka)

in bands Ghi & Thalassa(Earth & Sea) and Palyrria.
In "Εξ Αδοκήτω" (Unforeseen As It Was) you can hear musical influences from classical,

ancient Greek music,Armenian,Indian,middle east passages and jazz improvisations.
A mix of Byzantine music and traditional instruments with modern instrumentation.
The characteristic voice of Παναγιώτη Ξυδιά is floating over the compositions,

invoking the spirits of ancient times as he is capable of singing in Byzantine and Indian modes.
The lyrics are written in ancient Greek language and based on poems of the ancient Greek poet Σαπφώ.

Memory

John Williams – Images Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1972)

Composer: John Williams

Tracklist

1. In Search Of Unicorns 03:59
2. The House 02:37
3. Dogs, Ponies And Old Ruins 02:13
4. Visitations 02:52
5. Reflections 03:14
6. The Killing Of Marcel 03:12
7. The Love Montage 04:46
8. Blood Moon 03:15
9. Land Of The Ums 01:46
10. The Night Witch Ride 02:54
11. The Waterfall - Final Chapter 04:15

John Williams  is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, 

he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores.

In 1972 he composed the score for the psychological thriller "Images", 

directed by the American film director Robert Altman, 

(recorded in collaboration with noted Japanese percussionist, keyboardist and composer Stomu Yamashta).
Williams was inspired for the score by the "Sound Sculptures"
(metal and glass instruments) of Francois and Bernard Baschet.

As he described them: "They are stainless steel surfaces sculpted like floral petals.
Some of them are 16 feet high, they are prominent visual works. Vibrations from attachments of sawed off glass rods go through a wire and activate these planes of steel, making the most unearthly sounds, noises."
Bernard Baschet agreed to rent several of the sculptures with the condition 

only Stomu Yamashta would be permitted to touch them.
In addition Stomu Yamashta played conventional percussion instruments (timpani,hand drums,blocks, bells,marimba,Inca flutes and Kabuki percussions) while Williams orchestrated the entire score and played all the keyboards.
Watch the movie and enjoy this amazing darkly soundtrack.

Memory 

Diabolos Rising – Blood, Vampirism And Sadism (1995)

Country: Greece / Finland

Tracklist

1. Satanic Propaganda (S.N.T.F. Rising) 04:51
2. Circle Of Blood: Blood Lunar Cult 04:13
3. Blood Communion 05:24
4. Ilsa 02:09
5. Circle Of Pain: Sadism Unbound 05:42
6. Mantle Of Suffering 03:05
7. Circle Of Death: Necromanteion 03:41
8. Ashes To Ashes, Flesh To Dust 03:16

A great collaboration between Magus Wampyr Daoloth (Necromantia etc.) and  Mika Luttinen (Impaled Nazarene etc.) 
with the help of Divad (Necromantia) on guitars, 
maybe the first band to attempt mixing Black Metal with industrial elements.
Blood Vampirism And Sadism is their second album and here their sound seems more solid than their first release.
The industrial parts have increased and taken a more aggressive path going into even "noisier" fields in some songs.
The synths-programming by Magus Wampyr Daoloth is at top level giving you an "eastern" dark feeling in times 
and the only one that could provide the appropriate vocals to this obscure creation seems to be Mika Luttinen.
The album is divided in three chapters, Circle Of Blood, Circle Of Pain and Circle Of Death 
its one containing the relevant lyrical themes.
It was also released as a VHS cassette.A very dark-perverted and extreme album that was so ahead of its time.

Memory

Clock DVA – Buried Dreams (1989)

Country: England

Tracklist

1. Buried Dreams 04:02
2. Hide 04:31
3. Sound Mirror 05:47
4. Velvet Realm 06:46
5. The Unseen 05:22
6. The Reign 05:29
7. The Act 05:23
8. The Hacker 07:25
9. Connection Machine 05:57
10. The Sonology Of Sex I 04:26
11. The Sonology Of Sex II (Le Comtesse De Sang) 03:45
12. The Hacker (Video Mix) 03:24

"Buried Dreams", a slow dark techno-minimal-electronic masterpiece, with bleak vocals, sexual samples 

and an atmosphere full of perversion and death.
Possibly the darkest album Clock DVA has released.
Many movie samples used here along with themes of mysticism, occult, sexual violence 

and murder ("The Sonology Of Sex Part I and II").
Also some more futuristic stuff in songs like "Sound Mirror" and "The Hacker".
It is said that this record was found in the apartment of Jeffrey Dahmer when FBI arrested him.
A classic in electronic music. A journey into your darkest dreams.

Memory 

Presumed Guilty (1998)

Label: Misanthropy Records

Tracklist

1. Dream Into Dust – Stormbringer 05:51

2. In The Woods... – Let There Be More Light 06:30

3. Solstice – The Sleeping Tyrant 06:11

4. Hagalaz' Runedance – The Oath He Swore One Winter's Day 03:45

5. Primordial – Journey's End 08:00

6. Burzum – Et Hvitt Lys Over Skogen 09:04

7. Amber Asylum – Dreams Of Thee 03:27

8. Babylon Whores – Somniferum 04:07

9. Madder Mortem – These Mortal Sins 05:05

10. Mayhem – Ancient Skin 04:57

11. Beyond Dawn – Need 05:17

12. Endura – Vestigial Horn 01:49

13. Aphrodisiac – Lux Et Tenebrae 04:09

14. Monumentum – The Colour Of Compassion 07:30

A great compilation of artists by the mighty British label Misanthropy Records, 

Elfenblut and Heroine sub-labels containing unreleased and album tracks.
Released in order to protest against censorship in music business. 

The booklet contains thoughts by each individual artist regarding censorship 

and an essay by Tiziana Stupia (owner of Misanthropy Records).

Many different styles of quality music here but of course the highlight of the compilation is the unreleased,

back then, Burzum track "Et Hvitt Lys Over Skogen" which travels you back to the early days of Black Metal.

One of the best Burzum tracks ever, recorded at Grieghallen in 1992.
Hear it and feel the chills running down your spine.

 Memory

The Future Sound Of London – My Kingdom (MCD 1996)

Country: England

Tracklist

1. My Kingdom (Part 1) 10:50
2. My Kingdom (Part 2) 03:15
3. My Kingdom (Part 3) 07:11
4. My Kingdom (Part 4) 05:12
5. My Kingdom (Part 5) 03:54

The Future Sound of London are often credited with pushing the boundaries of electronic music experimentation 

covering most areas of it and of pioneering a new era of dance music.
"My Kingdom" is the first single from Future Sound of London's 1996 release "Dead Cities". 

It is written in a theme and variation format on the song "My Kingdom" (Parts 1 to 3), 

Part 4 returns to the original theme and Part 5 is the radio edit.
You can hear samples taken from "Pungent Effulgent" by Ozric Tentacles, "Once Upon a Time in America" by Ennio Morricone and "Blade Runner" soundtrack by Vangelis.
Beautifully arranged ambient textures mixed with dance music.

Memory

Esoteric – The Pernicious Enigma (1997)

Country: England

Tracklist

Disc 1
1. Creation (Through Destruction) 13:13
2. Dominion of Slaves 16:01
3. Allegiance 11:50
4. NOXBC9701040 12:48
Disc 2
1. Sinistrous 12:40
2. At War With the Race 02:52
3. A Worthless Dream 13:09
4. Stygian Narcosis 13:17
5. Passing Through Matter 19:15

Esoteric is a British band from Birmingham founded in 1992 that incorporates extreme Doom Metal
with distorted vocals and samples over slow paced, down-tuned riffs and atmospheric melodies.
The Pernicious Enigma is their second studio album (double CD) that was released in 1997 through Aesthetic Death Records.
Ultra slow Funeral Doom (also some faster parts or songs included),heavy rhythm guitars, using reverb and delay effects (creating a "psychedelic" dark ambiance feeling), shifting bass rhythms and low guttural vocals.
Nice usage of samples over tracks and some jazzy parts also exists in songs like "NOXBC9701040".
A very good album with a lot of dark noise elements ,heavy ambiance and power.

Memory

Part 1       Part 2

The Nefilim – Zoon (1996)

Country: England

Tracklist

1. Still Life 03:38
2. Xodus 03:47
3. Shine 06:48
4. Penetration 03:31
5. Melt (The Catching Of The Butterfly) 05:02
6. Venus Decomposing 06:06
7. Pazuzu (Black Rain) 06:38
8. Zoon (Parts 1 & 2) (Saturation) 09:41
9. Zoon (Part 3) (Wake World) 05:28
10. Coma 02:38

Well, this is an album that made all "Goths" staring at it with their mouths open,
while a question mark was hanging above their heads.
Carl McCoy after the disbanding of Fields Of The Nephilim and a 5 year hiatus,

formed The Nefilim and released Zoon, going into more brutal musical fields.
The album is a move away from the rich soundscapes that characterized earlier works of 

Fields of the Nephilim, towards, a darker more industrial - Death Metal sound.
Dark atmospheric industrial parts, pleasantly distracting keys, thundering drums and metal-slashing riffs
mixed with the deep characteristic voice (almost death metal) of Carl McCoy.
Zoon is a concept album, and while McCoy remained largely silent about the themes,

one possible explanation is that the story revolves around the "Watchers" and the "Book of Enoch".
The word "Zoon" is derived from Greek, meaning "living creature-animal" or "beast".

Memory

Musta Surma – Riena (MCD 1999)

Country: Finland

Tracklist

1. Riena 04:29
2. Nouskoon Pimeys 05:36
3. Hämärä Ikuisuus 06:27

Ex-Crimson Evenfall members formed Musta Surma (Finnish for "Black Death") in 1997 

and after recording a demo in 1998 Riena was their first official MCD release.
Excellent cold Finnish Black Metal with some mid-tempo parts and very good guitar riffs.

 Memory

Tangerine Dream – Zeit (1972)

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. Birth Of Liquid Plejades 20:00
2. Nebulous Dawn 18:00
3. Origin Of Supernatural Probabilities 20:12
4. Zeit 17:43

Tangerine Dream reached the height of their early experimentation with their third studio album Zeit.
"Zeit" is the German word for time and time seems to stand almost still during this long four tracks.
The album takes on an entirely different direction than the psychedelic acid kraut-rock
elements of Tangerine Dream's first releases.
Slow moving parts,dark sonic atmosphere,lots of spacy electronic effects,eerie cello lines,
all creating the perfect soundtrack for cosmic voyages. A "Largo in four movements", as it is subtitled.

As explained in the liner notes for the 2002 remaster reissue:
"Zeit was based on the philosophy that time was in fact motionless and only existed in our own minds."
And continues:
"Just as something is about to happen, it doesn't."
A musical visualization of the vast atmospheres of outer space.

Memory